"Elite" Perez 'cannot be left outside F1' - Ocon

Esteban Ocon has hailed former team-mate Sergio Perez as one of Formula 1's "elite" drivers who does not deserve to be left on the sidelines next season.

Perez will leave Racing Point after this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as it places its faith in Sebastian Vettel to lead it into the Aston Martin era.

The 30-year-old Mexican's departure will come one week after he scored his and the team's maiden F1 victory in Sunday's Sakhir GP.

Unless Red Bull decides to give Perez its second seat for next season, he will follow Ocon into taking a sabbatical after the Frenchman was forced down that route for 2019 after he was also ousted from Racing Point at the end of 2018.

"It’s obviously a very tough position to be in," said Ocon on taking a year out. "I know well what it feels like.

"I’m glad that Sergio is obviously getting the result to show everybody he deserves to be in Formula 1. He’s one of the top guys out there and he can’t be left outside. It would not be normal.

"But sometimes the sport is like that, unfortunately, and you don’t end up in the best situations."

Assessing how he coped with his year on the sidelines, albeit supported by Mercedes in the background, Ocon added: "On my side obviously, it was a tough year but I was in good hands.

"I had a lot of people believing in me and supporting me, which helped me to come back after a year out, and here we are. [It is] Not easy to get going but after a bit of running, you get there."

After previously stating a sabbatical would not be his priority, Perez has seemingly settled on the idea of taking a season off, acknowledging his competitiveness would be helped by the introduction of new regulations for 2022.

"I already have some good options for ’22," Perez explained. "So my best option is obviously to keep going on next year but if I have to stop, then it’s not a disaster, I can come back in ’22.

"The regulations are going to change so much that in a way, I don’t think it will hurt that much the driving side, to get up to speed. I’m at peace with myself."

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